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2017 Dodge Durango Expert Rundown Review

Want a lot of versatility and verve in your crossover SUV? The 2017 Dodge Durango might be a good match. Here's a quick rundown of what we like, what we don't and the bottom line from the Edmunds editors.

SPEAKER 1: I'm Editor Travis Langness and this is Edmunds Expert Rundown of the 2017 Dodge Durango. The 2017 Dodge Durango is back with just a few minor changes for this year, mostly just trim level stuff. It has a base v-6 and rear wheel drive which is sufficient but not very lively. We recommend upgrading to the V8. It's got impressive acceleration. And also the Durango overall has really good off road capability. It's got good towing capability especially with that optional V8. It's got a comfortable highway ride. It's a pretty heavy vehicle. But actually that heaviness lends to it being good on the highway. It feels pretty hunkered down, nice and quiet. It does have some pretty basic interior materials quality. It's not the top of the class. But it does have a really spacious third row and a big friendly touch screen in the front, UConnect touch screen that we're really big fans of. We think it's one of the best in the class. Unfortunately, on the base model, Bluetooth isn't standard. You do have to upgrade to get that which is kind of a weird missing feature for the class. But this is like we said one of the most adult friendly third rows in the class. It definitely is road trip worthy. There's a little bit of limited cargo space behind it in the trunk there. But when you fold down the second and third row, there's a lot of space back there to load all sorts of lumber, tools, whatever you need in the back. Up front, we've got that UConnect screen again, super user friendly, easy to learn, and definitely a lot of good controls and buttons, super responsive as well. Bottom line, the 2017 Dodge Durango is rugged, capable, and surprisingly spacious. I would definitely recommend checking it out despite its relative age in the segment. But be sure to look at the CX 9 from Mazda, the Toyota 4Runner, and also the Chevy Tahoe. For more Edmunds Expert Rundowns, click the link to subscribe.

suv buying info

What Is an SUV?

Car-Based vs. Truck-Based

Market Segment

Price

Performance & MPG

Safety

Features

Interior

Cargo Space

2WD/4WD/AWD

Cost to Own

What Is an SUV?

We use SUV, or sport-utility vehicle, generically, defining it as anything with a tall body, a hatchback and an elevated ride height. You will often hear the term "crossover" used, but this is really just a marketing term to describe a utility vehicle based on a car platform rather than one based on a truck platform. As such, with increasingly rare exception, the terms "crossover" and "SUV" are often interchangeable.

Car-Based vs. Truck-Based

Car-based SUVs (also known as crossovers) usually provide attributes associated with cars, like sharper handling, better fuel economy, a quieter and more comfortable ride and more interior room. Truck-based sport-utility vehicles are sturdier but heavier, can tow more weight and generally provide better off-road mobility.

Market Segment

We classify SUVs into subcompact, compact, midsize and full-size, with the midsize broken up into sub-segments based on whether they have two or three rows of seats. As you move up in size, you also move up in engine power, towing ability, passenger room and price. There are also luxury models in each of the groups.

Price

Prices for base model subcompacts and compacts start on the opposite sides of $20,000. Midsize and full-size SUVs vary greatly, with base models starting in the mid-$20Ks and going all the way up to the mid-$40Ks. Luxury SUVs start around $32,000 and can top out at more than $100,000.

Performance & MPG

Compact SUVs offer both four- and six-cylinder engines. Midsize sport-utes typically come standard with six-cylinder engines, but can be had with four- and eight-cylinder power plants as well. Full-size SUVs feature V6 or V8 engines. The most economical four-cylinder compact SUVs can achieve combined mileage figures in the mid-to-high 20s, while most six-cylinder sport-utes average in the upper teens (though the handful of gas-electric hybrid models do much better than that). Full-size vehicles get between 12 and 20 mpg.

Safety

Family shoppers should find antilock brakes, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and stability control standard on every model. Rearview cameras are also increasingly standard, while high-tech electronics that warn inattentive drivers of blind-spot intrusion and impending collisions have migrated from strictly in the luxury realm down to mainstream brands. Shoppers should also be aware of crash test scores produced by NHTSA and the IIHS.

Features

Luxuries like rearview cameras, automatic climate control, heated seats, smartphone interfaces, navigation systems, keyless start systems, power liftgates and Bluetooth capability can often be found in non-luxury SUVs. Look for them as you shop. Also keep an eye out for family-friendly features like rear-seat entertainment systems, flat-folding third-row seats, special storage bins and rear seats that slide and/or recline.

Interior

All but a few SUVs are designed to carry at least five passengers. Most subcompacts and compacts provide enough rear legroom for full-size adults, with several offering fore/aft seat adjustments to extend either passenger space or cargo capacity. The same goes for larger SUVs, but these wider vehicles are more likely to accommodate three-across seating. Most larger SUVs offer a third-row seat for additional passenger capacity. Such seats are generally best suited for kids, but several have third-row seats that can comfortably fit adults.

Cargo Space

Every sport-utility allows you to fold or remove the rear seats for more cargo capacity. When the rear seat is folded, compact SUVs can provide as much as 70 cubic feet of capacity, while midsize SUVs can expand to as much as 100 cubic feet. Full-size models offer cargo areas in excess of 100 cubic feet.

2WD/4WD/AWD

Two-wheel drive (2WD) means that only the front or rear wheels provide power to the vehicle. Four-wheel-drive vehicles allow the driver to select either two- or four-wheel drive, and the four-wheel-drive (4WD) system sometimes features dual-range gearing for even more traction and mobility while off-roading. All-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicles automatically distribute power in varying degrees to the wheels with the most traction, and they are typically best suited to all-weather driving rather than pure off-roading. All-wheel drive generally weighs far less than a 4WD system, but in most cases there is still an impact on fuel efficiency. Part-time 4WD and AWD systems attempt to minimize fuel-efficiency compromises by permitting two-wheel drive.

Cost to Own

Since compact SUVs are mostly smaller, lighter and have less complex four-wheel-drive systems, maintenance and fuel costs are usually lower. With larger size and larger engines, midsize and full-size sport-utes by and large get worse mileage and are more expensive to insure. This is especially true of truck-based models.

about suvs

The term SUV, or sport-utility vehicle, has become shorthand for many different types of vehicles. Some lean more toward the "sport" side of the name, while others are much more focused on the "utility" aspect of the equation. With that in mind, you shouldn't assume that anything labeled as an SUV is necessarily built for one particular type of activity or another.

The earliest SUVs were basically trucks with covered cargo beds. Although there are still some truck-based SUVs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe and Toyota 4Runner, most modern SUVs are designed primarily for carrying people first and cargo second.

The move away from the truck-based SUV to something oriented more toward passenger comfort resulted in the creation of what we now know as the crossover vehicle. The term "SUV" and "crossover" are often used interchangeably, but crossovers are generally lighter-duty vehicles that are less capable of towing heavy loads or venturing very far off-road.

One of the biggest reasons why SUVs have become so popular is the elevated driving position that gives drivers an unobstructed view of the road ahead. Most SUVs also offer the option of all-wheel drive that helps maintain traction in cold weather. Flexible cargo space is another reason why SUVs are often popular with families. Wide rear hatches and second-row seats that often fold flat also make SUVs capable of carrying large, awkward-sized loads.

And the downsides to SUVs? Poor fuel economy is often the biggest drawback. Most SUVs are large, heavy and not very aerodynamic. This makes them less fuel-efficient than a sedan of similar size. An average SUV also rides higher, so getting in and out can sometimes be more difficult for older passengers.